If your company is completely new to the concept, it might be helpful to start with one or two goals first. Be sure to identify three to five key results that align with each goal. Divide key results into specific, measurable actions and set clear expectations about who is responsible for each key result. OKRs stand for Objectives and Key Results, a collaborative goal-setting methodology used by teams and individuals to set ambitious and challenging goals with measurable results.
OKRs are the way to track progress, create alignment, and encourage participation around measurable goals. The OKR methodology is a powerful tool that helps us structure our objectives. When establishing OKRs, every key outcome must be measurable and have an objective. Measuring results is what really matters and what will guide us to victory.
However, it's still common to see people struggling to understand what good key results are and why it's important to measure them. OKR (Objectives and Key Results) is an objective system used by Google and others. It's a simple tool for creating alignment and commitment around measurable goals. This transition makes it easier to identify the specific steps needed to develop key initiatives and results.
The more specific the key results, the easier it is for a person to start creating the initiatives they need to achieve them. Reflecting on what all employees have achieved and recognizing the positive aspects of a person's effort can encourage them to keep working even if they haven't achieved 100% of the key results. While objectives must align across the company, you can give your team members independence to create their own tasks and determine how they will achieve a goal or define a key outcome. Just because you explained the OKRs and set up the key results doesn't mean you don't think about your progress until the deadline is up.
In each of the OKR categories below, there is an objective and two or three key results for the identified objective. Since setting objectives and key results can sometimes seem more like an art than a science, here are six common mistakes you should try to avoid in order to get the best OKRs. Having both types of key results can make it easier for you to have a sense of accomplishment without reducing your company's potential. However, make sure that the steps to achieve these goals are realistic, even if you're aiming high with your key results.
Because key results are designed to be measurable, it's easy to quantify progress toward business objectives. Before setting goals and expecting someone on your team to generate key results, you need to introduce them to the concept. By assigning a weighting of 100%, you can easily see how much each key result has progressed during the checks. While a goal can last a long time and drag on for a year or longer, the key results evolve as the work progresses.
